Stingy monsoon unlikely to get benevolent

The insanity prevailing in the political climate of the state for the past two days seems to have antagonised the weather also. The met department forecast on Thursday that possibilities of sufficient rains in UP are less in the near future because the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has gone weak and has also changed its course. As a result, some rains might occur in next two days in southern parts of UP situated adjacent to Madhya Pradesh, while rest of the state will have to contend with thundershowers that too in isolated place.

This is bad news for the state which is already reeling under a drought-like situation. So far, this monsoon from June 1 to July 15, the rainfall in the state has been 57% below normal. Average rain per district has been only 96 mm in comparison to 225.6 normal set for the period. The situation is bad all over the state but eastern parts are comparatively better than west. In east UP, average rains in this period has been 118 mm which is 56% below normal 249.1 mm. West UP on the other has on an average received only 75.7 mm rains, 60% below normal 191.5 mm. In Rampur, rainfall has been 80% below normal, the lowest in the state. Other districts among lowest rainfall category include Pilibhit, Saharanpur, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Baghpat and Mahoba. Gorakhpur in the east is the only place in the state to have recorded above normal rains so far.

State met director JP Gupta said that the low pressure area which was formed over the Bay of Bengal was earlier expected to come towards UP and bring some rains but it has now gone weak and has taken a southward course, which means that the rainfall will occur mainly in Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. Those areas of UP adjacent to Madhya Pradesh might also get some rain, he said.

However, he added, in rest of the state there are possibilities of thundershowers in isolated places. The Met director, however, also said that there was no need to be disappointed as fresh systems could develop after two or three days bringing rains in UP. Monsoon arrived 15 days late in UP this year and lost steam within two days. Since then, most parts of the state are going dry, causing extensive damage to Kharif crop. The state government has decided to wait till July 30 and review the situation before declaring a drought.

Source:: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com